Odom Impressed From Afar

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Some 10,010 Gamecocks fans filed into the Colonial Center for South Carolina's 64-52 win against Arkansas on Wednesday night.

Nice, but not quite like Arkansas, said fourth-year South Carolina coach Dave Odom, who was mighty impressed that 20,216 Razorbacks fans filled Bud Walton Arena during Arkansas' 68-67 loss against now-No. 6 Kentucky on Saturday.

Speaking of Kentucky ...

"Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas are unlike any other team in our league other than Kentucky, probably, in that their fans are loyal to the end almost regardless of the record," said Odom during a press conference on Tuesday. "Kentucky never faces the other end. They haven't in our lifetimes. We don't know what would happen if they went 2-5 in the league as Arkansas is right now (2-6 after South Carolina's win).

"What we do know is that they are always there, 22,000 strong. I think Arkansas comes the next closest to that.

"If almost any other team in our league opened 2-5, what you might find - and this is what I've tried to point out in the SEC - is that you have to be careful how you schedule, because if you open 2-5, most home fans will throw up their hands and say, 'We're out of the championship. Why bother?'"

HOLDING COURTSouth Carolina is 11-1 at home, 0-6 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral court.

The Hogs have now lost 13 straight road games.

Formerly called The Carolina Center, the arena was renamed the Colonial Center in October 2003. Its doors opened on Nov. 20, 2002, with a seating capacity of almost 18,000.

HOGS A BIG DEALHe may have changed his mind after Wednesday night's rout, but Odom said on Tuesday he had been impressed with Arkansas' freshman frontline players - centers Steven Hill and Darian Townes and forward Charles Thomas.

"Last year inside, they were playing with a football quarterback (Matt Jones) hoping to get drafted this year.

"They're anything but that now. They've got guys who are hoping to be drafted, but it's not by the NFL. These are legitimate, all-star freshman guys. They have three guys who all could be drafted in time."

Hill made his first start since the 25-point loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 15. He played nine minutes and missed his only field-goal attempt and one of two free-throw tries. He had 3 rebounds and no blocks.

Townes scored 6 points and had 4 rebounds, a block, steal and assist and turned the ball over 3 times in 31 minutes.

After getting off to a fast start this season, Thomas continued to struggle, missing his only field-goal attempt and getting only one rebound in eight minutes.